The Home Cook: 2006 Holiday Baking

So it's that time of year. You know the time of year when you get to make copious amounts of rich, sweet and oh so bad for you goodies. Now I'm still a few (read two) weeks away from my appointed goodie making weekend but I'm probably going to be picking up ingredients and supplies this week since "Good fortune favors the prepared."

Growing up the traditional holiday fare was chex-mix, caramel corn, fudge, almond bark pretzels, cherry bing bars and one "new" thing. I still really enjoy these treats, but as I've grown into my own cooking style I find I enjoy baked goods over candies and less achingly sweet things over the richness of fudge. I like more complex flavors...the salty sweetness of peanut butter paired with semi-sweet chocolate or the lemony zip of a crisp, buttery spritz cookie. This year I'm working on paring down my list and so far I'm looking at the following contenders:

Peppermint Bark, this is a something new for 2006, though unlike the photo the recipe I'm considering has both white and dark chocolate. Either way with peppermint candies and flavoring I'm hopping this will be a favorite of Tim's.

Almond Bark Pretzels, simple and easy. I've made these every year since my freshman year in college...but I've gone gourmet and drizzle white and dark chocolate over them for a very nice look.

Pumpkin Bread, this is a new contender and would be taking the place of banana bread since I don't currently have any bananas in the freezer.

Chex-mix, our chex mix is an infusion of family traditions...my mom gave us the garlic bagel chip and the omission of the dreaded wheat chexs...Tim's mom contributed nuts and cheerios. Yes, cheerios...I still think it's pretty weird.

A few years ago I was still in my dad's family's Christmas drawing and in a fit of desperate "oh what do I tell them that I want?" I asked for a cookie press...and got it. I have only ever used it at Christmas time, but the little teeny cookies are so cute decked out in red, green and clear sprinkles.

Also in contention are ice-box cookies and peanut butter balls (though their real name escapes me at the moment.) I'm thinking that not everything here will get made, but we shall see I tend to go over-board. This could very well be another holiday season with treats tucked away in the dryer.

Note: All photos courtesy Google Image search.